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Darin's Favorite Albums of 2014 (Part 1 of 3)

With 2014 almost two weeks behind us, I finally got around to compiling my top 20 full length albums of 2014. Be sure to also check out my favorite EPs of 2014 as well.

Here is part one of the three part series:

Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Piano Nights

Bohren & Der Club of Gore provides another slab of super slow tunes with ambient textures, film noir soundscapes, and smokey jazz. Check out my full review here.

Cliff Martinez - The Knick (Original Series Soundtrack)

The Knick is a new Cinemax series about the brutal reality of turn-of-the-century medical practices. Martinez's minimal score evokes just the right atmosphere with classic synthesizer sounds and droney melodies made on a Cristal Bachet.

Daniel Lanois - Flesh and Machine

Known for engineering and producing many classic albums, Lanois is also a remarkably creative artist in his own right. Flesh and Machine still continues to grow on me with its array of processed live instruments.

Godflesh - A World Lit Only By Fire

The return of the almight Godflesh was not a disappointment at all. A World Lit Only By Fire brought the classic combination of drum machine, distorted bass, and dissonant guitars back from the past and into the future.

Kayo Dot - Coffins On lo

Toby Driver and crew continue to keep their fans guessing with each album. As Kayo Dot's most accessible album yet, the synthy goth-inspired tracks on Coffins On lo show how avant garde music can also be very melodic and overall more listenable.

As the singer/songwriter/guitarist of Shudder To Think, Wedren was known for his off-kilter yet pop-infected songs. Teamed with composer Jefferson Friedman, In On Love is Wedren's best work since Shudder To Think's classic Pony Express Record.

Murmur - Murmur

Murmur's second album adds 70s prog influences and almost jazz fusion sounds to their black metal repertoire. As the album continues, Murmur's sound moves away from black metal into a hybrid that is sort of like a darker version of 90s midwestern post-hardcore meets Rock in Opposition prog bands. The albums ends with a fairly perfect rendition of King Crimson's "Larks' Tongues in Aspic." Read our full review here.